A recent addition to Mr. Michael Weinstein’s press portfolio has been an interview with the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, in which he states that ‘all Jewish people’ know that “postmillennial reconstructionist dominionist evangelical” Christians are putting America on a train to “Slaughterville,” saying that “2007 looks more like 1937.”
Religious Freedom Day passed quietly, with virtually no mainstream media press coverage, even though struggles continue over the proper role of religion in government, the military, and public society. The President’s proclamation is here, and a private organization has started a website to better publicize the day.
In the latest bid to bring closure to the 17-year old suit demanding the removal of the Mount Soledad Cross, the US Court of Appeals has declared the suit moot.
The Navy Times reports that a judge has refused to prevent the Navy from discharging Chaplain (Lt) Klingenschmitt at the end of January. The Chaplain’s suit against the Navy is still outstanding.
The ACLJ has updated their call for petition signatures (see 01/05 post below) here, framing themselves as the legal opposition to the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
The Colorado Springs Gazette has reported [link broken] that cadets feel the Academy is ‘more tolerant.’ According to the Academy surveys, 95% of Christians and 85% of non-Christians said the Academy supports religious freedom.
The ACLJ, the Christian counter to the ACLU, is “gearing up to assist in [the] battle…[over] free speech rights of military chaplains,” which it expects will get renewed interest from the newly elected Democratic congressional leadership. The ACLJ’s current emphasis is on a petition drive to obtain a Presidential Executive Order explicitly directing the military to allow its chaplains to pray in accordance with the dictates of their faith.
As noted in an Air Force article, on June 23 Rabbi Resnicoff finished his year of service as special assistant to the Air Force secretary and chief of staff for values and vision. In a Washington Jewish Week article, Resnicoff noted that “for some Christians sharing one’s faith with others is an essential part of their religion” and “the guidelines do not prohibit such free exercise.” Notably, Mikey Weinstein is quoted as calling Resnicoff an “unmitigated disaster.”